CHAPTER 5 - POST FLIGHT

5-1.  Closing Flight Plans.   

          a.      FAA.  The pilot is responsible for notifying the appropriate agency to close out or change to a flight plan. 

                  (1)  Military Installations- the pilot should verbally confirm the closing of his flight plan with tower or base operations personnel. 

                  (2)  Non-Military Installations-  the pilot closes the flight plan with Flight Service Station through any means of communications available.  Collect long distance telephone service may be used. 

                  (3)  When no ATS unit exists at the aerodrome of arrival, the arrival report shall be made as soon as practicable after landing by the quickest means available to the nearest Air Traffic Service unit.  When communications facilities at the aerodrome of arrival are inadequate and alternate arrangements for the handling of arrival reports on the ground are not available, the aircraft shall, if practicable, transmit by radio immediately prior to landing a message comparable to an arrival report, to an appropriate Air Traffic Service unit.  Normally, contact the air-ground communication facility serving the Air Traffic Service unit in charge of the Flight Information Region in which the aircraft is flying. 

          b.      ICAO.  Make a report of arrival to the nearest appropriate Air Traffic Service unit, at the earliest practicable moment after landing, for any flight for which a flight plan has been submitted. 

                  (1)  UNITED STATES MILITARY AIRPORTS - Flight plans can be closed by personally turning in the duplicate copy of DD Form 1801 or ICAO flight plan to the Base Operations.                 

                  (2)  UNATTENDED FIELDS - When landing at unattended fields, pilots will close flight plans by radio prior to landing or by telephone as soon as possible after landing. 

                  (3)  DIVERSIONARY LANDINGS - Pilots of aircraft landing at a weather alternate or destination other than originally filed will insure appropriate aeronautical authorities (Base Operations, Dispatcher, Civil/National Dispatchers, etc.) are notified to send both the departure point and originally intended destination in an arrival message. 

5-2.  Flight Violations.  The Federal Aviation Act of 1958, Section 1002, says, in part: “In the case of complaints against a member of the Armed Forces of the United States acting in the performance of his official duties”...  the Administrator,.” shall refer the complaint to the Secretary of the department concerned for action.”  The Service (Army) must report back within ninety days after receiving the complaint, the “disposition of the complaint, including a report as to any corrective or disciplinary actions taken.” If you suspect that the FAA is going to file an alleged flight violation against you, take the following actions: (1) Do not provide your name.  FAA personnel not familiar with processing alleged military flight violations may attempt to take action against your civilian pilot’s certificate (privileges).  As stated in the paragraph above, if any action is required, the military will take the action.  (2)  Notify your commander.  There is a need to protect the documents or evidence relevant to the incident.  (3)  Notify the Department of the Army Regional Representative (DARR) office in the FAA region in which the alleged violation occurred.  The DARR may be able to obtain additional information or mitigate the incident. 

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